May 10 Global Sodium Consumption Accounts For 10% of Deaths From Cardiovascular Causes a Study Finds

Objective: To estimate the effect of high sodium intake on global cardiovascular mortality.

Background

Sodium is known to have an effect on blood pressure. If you want to learn more about it, be sure to check out these articles/ videos. They will certainly advance your understanding of the relationship between salt and your health.:

In this study, the authors acknowledge what we already know; That high salt intake is associated with high blood pressure. This is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks. However, the impact of salt intake on death around the globe among various geographic regions has not been well established in the literature.

The authors of this study sought to answer that question.

Methods

They used survey data from 66 countries accounting for 74.1% of adults in the world. This allowed them to quantify the global consumption of sodium according to age, sex, and country.

They also used a meta-analysis of 107 randomized interventions to calculate the effects of sodium on blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality

They then estimated the cardiovascular effects of current sodium intake, using of 2.0 g of sodium per day as a reference, according to age, sex, and country.

Results

The average level of sodium consumption across the planet was 3.95 g per day.

Globally, 1.65 million annual deaths from cardiovascular causes could be attributed to sodium intake above the reference level. (61.9% in men and 38.1% in women).

These deaths accounted for nearly 10% of all deaths from cardiovascular causes.

80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries

40% occurred before the age of 70 (considered premature)

The rate of death from cardiovascular causes associated with sodium intake was highest in the country of Georgia and lowest in Kenya.

Conclusions

This study identifies the global trend of increased sodium intake with increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and death from cardiovascular disease.

No regions and few countries were spared from this global trend.

This information can be used by clinicians and epidemiologists across the world to increase awareness and policy changes aimed at reducing salt consumption.